WASHINGTON D.C., Nov 22, 2010 / — Five years after the phrase “Cyber Monday” was coined, retailers have even bigger plans for the Monday after Thanksgiving.
According to Shop.org’s eHoliday Survey, conducted by BIGresearch®, nearly nine in ten (88.2%) retailers will have a special promotion for Cyber Monday, up from just 72.2 percent in 2007.
Retailers’ Cyber Monday plans are more robust this year with nearly half of companies offering specific deals (49.0%, up from 42.9% last year) and many planning one-day sales (41.2% vs. 32.9% last year) and free shipping on all purchases (21.6% vs. 15.7% last year). In addition, the majority of retailers (62.7%) will send promotions and deals to shoppers through a special Cyber Monday email.
“When Shop.org coined “Cyber Monday” to illustrate the trend of people shopping online on the Monday after Thanksgiving, we never imagined it would become such a popular phrase in the retail dictionary,” said Joan Broughton, Interim Executive Director of Shop.org.
“Today, Cyber Monday has become such a crucial component of the holiday season that many retailers – and shoppers – don’t remember the holidays without it. And just when we think that Cyber Monday can’t get any bigger, it does.”
Cyber Monday, a term coined by Shop.org in 2005, began after retailers noticed a trend of people shopping online on the Monday after Thanksgiving. Today, Cyber Monday is viewed as the online equivalent to Black Friday: the ceremonial kickoff to the online holiday shopping season when shoppers flood websites expecting robust promotions and many retailers highlight some of their most compelling online holiday offers.
Over Half of People with Internet at Work Will Shop at the Office
Although many will opt to shop for holiday gifts online from home, many Americans also set aside time over their lunch hours or at the end of the day to shop online from work.
According to the survey, 54.5 percent of workers with Internet access, or 70.1 million people, will shop for holiday gifts from the office this year. Employees most likely to shop from work include men (56.5%) and young adults 25-34 (71.8%).
“Even though much of the Cyber Monday shopping is shifting to early mornings and late nights, there’s something to be said for being able to shop online for holiday gifts without worrying about curious children or spouses looking over your shoulder,” said Phil Rist, Executive Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, BIGresearch.
“Many businesses understand that Americans’ work and personal lives are merging, and would rather have employees shopping online at work than driving all over town during their lunch hour looking for the perfect gift.”
